Reading the newspaper this morning, I realize the problems we have in Perry County with state police investigations (or lack thereof) is not unique. It is a shame that the organization founded to deal with corruption in local and county governments is no longer interested in enforcing the law.
The situation I refer to is the issue in Prescott, Arkansas. Curly Wolves aren't the only thing howling down south. It appears that local Sam Tilden's are working to expose a corrupt mayor that sounds much like the corrupt actors in our very own county. They even offered photographic and video evidence of corruption to the state police and can't get a real investigation.
Maybe the local state police have become too much part of the system. Maybe they are bought and paid for like so many law enforcement officers. Once, the ASP was a noble force protecting citizens in the state.
Sounds eerily familiar to those who have been on the front lines of fighting corruption.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
"I will clean out the entire department"
A bold statement but it takes a bold statement for a reformer to make any progress.
It looks like the corruption in Perry County law enforcement and goverment is facing someone who isn't afraid to speak loudly and publicly about the political machine that controls and intimidates Perry County residents. I wish Mr. Kiefer well and look forward to seeing his plans for the county. If he chooses, he has the financial resources to expose corruption in the county. Based on my past experience fighting such corruption, you can be sure that those in power will pull out all of their tricks to make sure he doesn't win.
Can they steal an election? It wouldn't be the first time it has happened in Perry County.
Can they pose a physical threat to he and his family. It wouldn't be the first time it has happened in Perry County.
Will deputies and other law enforcement trail he and his supporters around the county? Won't be the first time it has happened.
Good luck Mr. Kiefer.
I'll keep working with my tipsters and you can be sure as I find new information it will be posted for all to see.
It looks like the corruption in Perry County law enforcement and goverment is facing someone who isn't afraid to speak loudly and publicly about the political machine that controls and intimidates Perry County residents. I wish Mr. Kiefer well and look forward to seeing his plans for the county. If he chooses, he has the financial resources to expose corruption in the county. Based on my past experience fighting such corruption, you can be sure that those in power will pull out all of their tricks to make sure he doesn't win.
Can they steal an election? It wouldn't be the first time it has happened in Perry County.
Can they pose a physical threat to he and his family. It wouldn't be the first time it has happened in Perry County.
Will deputies and other law enforcement trail he and his supporters around the county? Won't be the first time it has happened.
Good luck Mr. Kiefer.
I'll keep working with my tipsters and you can be sure as I find new information it will be posted for all to see.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Casa water system struggles
Perry County news you can use....from Channel 4.
Casa Residents Asked to Conserve Water
Casa Residents Asked to Conserve Water
Reported by: Courtney Collins, KARK 4 News
Monday, Aug 4, 2008 @02:13pm CST
Forget watering the lawn or washing the car in Casa, and save the water for yourself, especially during the hot, dry spell Arkansas is having.
That's what residents of the small Perry County town are being asked to do after problems with their water source.
"The pressure's really low, you could really tell it this morning. But it's been low the last couple of days, says resident Clinton Brixey.
Casa gets its water from nearby Ola and Danville, but when the treatment plant in Ola was shutdown recently and Danville slowed down its water flow to Casa, things got worse for the small community.
"I'm hoping the health department will relent and come up and let them start up at Ola, that would solve our problem,” says Casa mayor Alan Harris.
No one is in dire straits in Casa because of the situation, but city hall wants to keep it that way, and has asked residents to conserve water wherever they can.
That's what residents of the small Perry County town are being asked to do after problems with their water source.
"The pressure's really low, you could really tell it this morning. But it's been low the last couple of days, says resident Clinton Brixey.
Casa gets its water from nearby Ola and Danville, but when the treatment plant in Ola was shutdown recently and Danville slowed down its water flow to Casa, things got worse for the small community.
"I'm hoping the health department will relent and come up and let them start up at Ola, that would solve our problem,” says Casa mayor Alan Harris.
No one is in dire straits in Casa because of the situation, but city hall wants to keep it that way, and has asked residents to conserve water wherever they can.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Senator Bob Johnson aka "Little Bob"
Around Perry County, he is known as "Little Bob." Senator Johnson currently serves as the most powerful member of the Arkansas General Assembly. There are those that think his power eclipses that of Governor Mike Beebe.
If he controls Arkansas you can be sure he controls Perry County. Anybody else remember the name, Van Dalsem? Seems like Little Bob has assumed the same position.
Here are some links to a couple of articles about his clout in Little Rock and Pulaski County from the Arkansas Times in 2006
http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/2006/09/death_star.aspx
http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/2006/09/bob_johnson_update.aspx
If he controls Arkansas you can be sure he controls Perry County. Anybody else remember the name, Van Dalsem? Seems like Little Bob has assumed the same position.
Here are some links to a couple of articles about his clout in Little Rock and Pulaski County from the Arkansas Times in 2006
http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/2006/09/death_star.aspx
http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/2006/09/bob_johnson_update.aspx
Friday, July 4, 2008
Act 309 Inmates did work for Byrd
Why were there no prosecutions of Sheriff Ray Byrd when the Department of Corrections thought enough evidence existed that Act 309 inmates were doing work for him. That type of work was prosecuted in Lonoke County, but not Pulaski County.
Who wants to be the first to list the personal work occuring in the Perry County Jail today?
Here is the story from the Democrat Gazette in which ADC spokesperson Tyler mentions the Perry County problem. Click on the comments section to see the full article.
"The committee canceled the Perry County sheriff ’s office participation last year because the prisoners did work for the sheriff, Tyler said. The Searcy County sheriff ’s office was dropped two years ago for inappropriate use of inmate labor but was reinstated after a new sheriff took office, Tyler said."
Who wants to be the first to list the personal work occuring in the Perry County Jail today?
Here is the story from the Democrat Gazette in which ADC spokesperson Tyler mentions the Perry County problem. Click on the comments section to see the full article.
"The committee canceled the Perry County sheriff ’s office participation last year because the prisoners did work for the sheriff, Tyler said. The Searcy County sheriff ’s office was dropped two years ago for inappropriate use of inmate labor but was reinstated after a new sheriff took office, Tyler said."
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Hunting Clubs in Perry County
Hunting clubs are nothing new in Arkansas. Across the state, groups of men lease the hunting rights from private landowners (often the large timber companies) and set up a camp. In many cases, these clubs are multigenerational and are an important way for fathers to pass on traditions to sons.
In Perry County, these traditions are not just hunting deer. The Perry County hunt clubs like Harmony Hunt Club (off of Hwy 9/10) and the Maumelle/Wye Mtn Hunt Club (on Wye Mt off of hwy 300) both on Deltic Timber property have a deep history in Arkansas political power. They are close enough to Little Rock to be convenient but far enough away to be private. It is through these clubs that political deals have been forged.
These clubs are the same ones that were involved with using state prisoners as a private labor force to cook and clean that finally brought media attention which ended the practice in the 50's and 60's.
These camps are still open and the labor force hasn't changed much. They continue to be the seat of much political influence and continue to cement the ties between Perry County and the state capitol.
In Perry County, these traditions are not just hunting deer. The Perry County hunt clubs like Harmony Hunt Club (off of Hwy 9/10) and the Maumelle/Wye Mtn Hunt Club (on Wye Mt off of hwy 300) both on Deltic Timber property have a deep history in Arkansas political power. They are close enough to Little Rock to be convenient but far enough away to be private. It is through these clubs that political deals have been forged.
These clubs are the same ones that were involved with using state prisoners as a private labor force to cook and clean that finally brought media attention which ended the practice in the 50's and 60's.
These camps are still open and the labor force hasn't changed much. They continue to be the seat of much political influence and continue to cement the ties between Perry County and the state capitol.
Election "Irregularities" in Perry County
The statewide newspaper reports today on the results of election monitoring in St. Francis County. the state board of election commissioners listed multiple violations of election conduct at polling locations in that county.
Those types of activities are nothing new in Perry County and in other counties across the state. The lack of punishment for those who commit election violations threatens the very idea of free and fair elections in Arkansas.
In Perry County:
1) Poll Workers routinely instruct voters not only how to use a ballot, but also who to vote for
2) Poll Workers have actually voted for voters in Perry County. In some cases when the voter is actually present. In other cases when they are not.
3) The voting machines do not have a certified "open" tally receipt and a certified "closed" tally receipt. What that means is that votes could easily be cast prior to the election day and counted on election night
4) Poll Workers have been known to call voters to remind them to vote in the election
5) Campaigning inside the polling location is not new to Perry County
6) Poll workers have been known to refuse to allow registered voters to actually cast a ballot in the county
7) No certified paper receipt of the voting tally from the electronic voting machine actually exists.
8) Poll Workers refuse to follow the state law that allows voters to change their voter registration information at the polls.
9) No level of security and chain of custody is followed in Perry County
Those types of activities are nothing new in Perry County and in other counties across the state. The lack of punishment for those who commit election violations threatens the very idea of free and fair elections in Arkansas.
In Perry County:
1) Poll Workers routinely instruct voters not only how to use a ballot, but also who to vote for
2) Poll Workers have actually voted for voters in Perry County. In some cases when the voter is actually present. In other cases when they are not.
3) The voting machines do not have a certified "open" tally receipt and a certified "closed" tally receipt. What that means is that votes could easily be cast prior to the election day and counted on election night
4) Poll Workers have been known to call voters to remind them to vote in the election
5) Campaigning inside the polling location is not new to Perry County
6) Poll workers have been known to refuse to allow registered voters to actually cast a ballot in the county
7) No certified paper receipt of the voting tally from the electronic voting machine actually exists.
8) Poll Workers refuse to follow the state law that allows voters to change their voter registration information at the polls.
9) No level of security and chain of custody is followed in Perry County
Saturday, June 28, 2008
State Police "investigation" - One and done
It certainly doesn't appear that Lt. Bill Beach did much more than contact constable Ron Hance.
I have been told there are two ways to conduct an investigation.
1) If you want to prove guilt, contact the victim first and then talk to other parties/witnesses
2) If you want to prove innocence, contact the other parties first and then talk to the victim.
Bill certainly had a new twist on proving innocence. Just skip the appearance of talking to the victim. Makes it easier. And don't bother even making the appearance looking in to more than 10% of the complaint.
It is a shame that the ASP, who were originally created to break the power of the local county machines, have become part of the problem. When troopers are so connected to the local county law enforcement that they are unable to objectively serve the state, rather than just an extension of the local law enforcement, then the entire state suffers. We might as well disband the state police and redirect the money to local law enforcement.
In Perry County, the two troopers are closely tied to all of the local problems and are just one way the local political machine stays in power. Those troopers are based out of Troop J in Clarkesville. Troop J covers the following counties: Conway, Perry, Johnson, Van Buren, Yell, and Pope.
I have been told there are two ways to conduct an investigation.
1) If you want to prove guilt, contact the victim first and then talk to other parties/witnesses
2) If you want to prove innocence, contact the other parties first and then talk to the victim.
Bill certainly had a new twist on proving innocence. Just skip the appearance of talking to the victim. Makes it easier. And don't bother even making the appearance looking in to more than 10% of the complaint.
It is a shame that the ASP, who were originally created to break the power of the local county machines, have become part of the problem. When troopers are so connected to the local county law enforcement that they are unable to objectively serve the state, rather than just an extension of the local law enforcement, then the entire state suffers. We might as well disband the state police and redirect the money to local law enforcement.
In Perry County, the two troopers are closely tied to all of the local problems and are just one way the local political machine stays in power. Those troopers are based out of Troop J in Clarkesville. Troop J covers the following counties: Conway, Perry, Johnson, Van Buren, Yell, and Pope.
"encouragement" based legal system
According to the newspaper article today, Randy and Ricky Wise had a change of heart about voter fraud. We've heard that the old Boss Hogg Branscum made a couple of phone calls and "encouraged" them to have this change of heart. Now, when the banker in a small town and the seated sheriff in a small town both ask you to have "a change of heart" that is fairly powerful incentive in any county.
That type of "encouragement" is nothing new in Perry County. Follow this link to read how "encouragement" makes rape of a four year old girl disappear. Or read this story to see another example of the power of "encouragement" in the Perry County justice system. And these are just stories that are on the public record. There are plenty of stories just like that in e-mails we are receiving. In fact, it is ironic that the voter fraud case was based on "encouragement" to begin with.
That type of "encouragement" is nothing new in Perry County. Follow this link to read how "encouragement" makes rape of a four year old girl disappear. Or read this story to see another example of the power of "encouragement" in the Perry County justice system. And these are just stories that are on the public record. There are plenty of stories just like that in e-mails we are receiving. In fact, it is ironic that the voter fraud case was based on "encouragement" to begin with.
Judge Chris Piazza Caves
It is no surprise that Judge Chris Piazza ruled against convening a grand jury to look at voter fraud allegations from the May Democratic primary. Perry County political antics are not new to former Pulaski/Perry County prosecutor Chris Piazza. He is familiar with the county and we would guess (and are working on confirmation) that he is a member at one of the hunting clubs in Perry County. He would just be one in a long line of prosecutors who have enabled the latest Perry County political machine to continue. Not only has he served as the prosecutor, but his wife, Melody Piazza served as the chief deputy prosecutor for the Pulaski/Perry County Prosecutor. How closely did she work with Judge Elizabeth Wise when they were at the prosecutor's office together?
We wish that Judge Piazza would recall the days that he helped speed the Steve Clark fall from grace when Steve had the audacity to run for governor in the nineties.
What past and future favors were called in to keep this case from going to a grand jury, we don't know. But we will be looking. What pressure was applied by the likes of Branscum and Johnson? We may never know, but based on past patterns, pressure in Perry County makes crimes as terrible as child rape go away.
It would be easy to apply pressure to make this go away. And in Perry County, when The banker, The sheriff, and The judge all call you and "encourage" you to think a certain way, that is powerful motivation.
We wish that Judge Piazza would recall the days that he helped speed the Steve Clark fall from grace when Steve had the audacity to run for governor in the nineties.
What past and future favors were called in to keep this case from going to a grand jury, we don't know. But we will be looking. What pressure was applied by the likes of Branscum and Johnson? We may never know, but based on past patterns, pressure in Perry County makes crimes as terrible as child rape go away.
It would be easy to apply pressure to make this go away. And in Perry County, when The banker, The sheriff, and The judge all call you and "encourage" you to think a certain way, that is powerful motivation.
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